The Pioneer, Dec 5, 2009
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna
Farmers on Friday blocked the National Highway- 201 at Jaring in the district protesting the delay in paddy procurement at the collection centres. The farmers alleged nearly 300 quintals of paddy was lying under the open sky for a fortnight as the Nandul PACS did not have adequate storage facilities.
However, a PACS member said to the farmers that till the millers don’t lift the produce they are helpless. When the farmers of Nandul, Jaring and Kendupati under Junagarh block transported the paddy on tractors to the Nandul PACS they were unable to unload the produce the hapless farmers resorted to a road blockade. After intervention of Sub-Collector, Jagannath Mohanty, the farmers withdrew the protest.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Sub-Collector Mohanty said that few farmers had blocked the road but he immediately reached the spot and convinced them to withdraw the strike.
When asked why the millers don’t want to lift the paddy from the PACS, Mohanty informed as their margin will decrease this year with the implementation of new policy as compared to last year they are unitedly planning not to lift the produce. When asked what action would be taken if the millers defy the PACS agreement Mohanty further said that we are waiting for at least two to three days more.
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